Holywell Town 2-3 Rhyl

Holywell Town welcomed Rhyl to Halkyn Road on a wet and blustery night with both sides looking to get back to winning ways and to climb up the table where both teams belong.

Shaun Tuck was soon running at the defence and his shot was underhit and the keeper was able to save, then Town won a free kick and it was lofted into the box, the keeper dropped it under Matty Harvey’s challenge and the loose ball was cleared before Town were able to fire it at goal.
Rhyl’s first effort of the night fell to Mike Pritchard, but he drove his shot wide of Andy Metcalfs goal. With quarter of an hour on the clock, the Wellmen took the lead. A great ball through by Stuart Hayes for Steve Lewis to chase, saw the Rhyl keeper come out to clear but he collided with Rhyl’s Max Peate, and the loose ball ran towards the touchline, and Peate brought Lewis down and the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Steve Lewis, on his first game back for the Wellmen since signing last month and he fired the ball past Rory Crowther to give the wellmen the lead.
Five minutes later, the ball was fed to Lewis on the edge of the box, and he turned and his first time effort saw Crowther dive low to his right to palm the ball away for a corner. Rhyl then had an effort but like earlier, Prtchard saw his shot go wide of Metcalfs right hand post. Rhyl’s next attack saw Kristian Pierce have a fierce shot on goal, but Stuart Hayes was back defending and his great block saw the ball cleared as it was on target towards Metcalfs goal. Town won a free kick was was hit high in to the box, but Harvey was adjudged to have fouled Crowther forcing him to drop the ball and the referee blew for a foul. It was end to end stuff now and the next attack saw Rhyl’s Pierce forcing Metcalf into a good save, but the rebound fell to Barry torrence but his effort was high over the cross bar.
A low cross into the box saw Torence get on the end of it, but he steered the ball wide of the post. With a couple of minutes to go in the half, Liam Smith drew the sides level, as his shot was deflected off a Wellmen defender and nestled into the net.
Half Time : Holywell Town 1-1 Rhyl
The second half got underway and the first attack went Rhyl’s way, a good cross by Adam Hassall into the box saw Harvey head the ball over. With 5 minutes played, a great ball over the top to Pritchard but his effort went over the bar when he should have hit the target. A few minutes later, Rhyl took the lead. Rhyl won a free kick and James Murphy took it and his effort found the bottom corner past Metcalf. The lead didn’t last long however as the Wellmen were soon back on level terms. The ball was played across the penalty area and Zebb Edwards picked it up and slotted the ball home into an empty net.
Rhyl broke free shortly afterwards, and Mike Pritchard was through on goal but a great tackle by Ryan Jones saw him clear the ball just as Pritchard was about to pull the trigger. Ben Marsh then put in a great cross and James Murphy’s glancing header falls inches wide of the post. Town’s next move saw Lewis put the ball through for Connot Littler, but his effort was blocked for a corner.
As we entered the dying minutes of the game, Town were looking for a winner but it just wouldn’t fall for them, and at the other end, another great ball into the box for Rhyl’s forwards to attack and Matty Kendrick was forced to clear the ball for a corner with Pritchard attacking. But, with the game in the first minute of stoppage time, it was disappointment for the Wellmen as Rhyl scored a late winner!. A free kick high into the box saw Metcalf and Max Peate rise for the ball, but the ball wasn’t cleared and fell to Liam Nash, who tapped the ball home at the far post to put the visitors ahead.
A minute later, the Wellmen could have grabbed a last minute equaliser as the ball was played into the box, and slight hesitation between the keeper and the defender saw Connor Littler on hand to have the ball at his feet, and after a snapshot at goal which was blocked, the keeper was able to gather the ball to safety and the chance had gone.
The late goal was a huge disappointment on the Wellmen who deserved a draw and must now pick themselves up ahead of next week’s Welsh Cup Round 1 match at Caersws.